“The Village” (Touchstone Pictures)
“The Village” is M Night Shyamalan’s fourth film, and it is second only to “The Sixth Sense” in pure entertainment value. This movie has the requisite Shyamalan “twist at the end” but that is not what makes the film a standout. It is all that comes before that end that really counts.
“The Village” concerns a “village” in Pennsylvania that sits on the edge of a forest. There is an uneasy truce that exists between the villagers and “that whose name we do not speak.” These are creatures that live in the forest and are feared totally by the villagers. The creatures make moaning noises and kill small animals.
The leaders of the village are the “elders.” The most prominent is Edward Walker (William Hurt). He is the father of Ivy (Bryce Dallas Howard) and Kitty (Judy Greer). Another “elder” is Alice Hunt (Sigourney Weaver). She is the mother of Lucius Hunt (Joaquin Phoenix). Lucius is in love with Ivy but has not told her of that fact. She is blind and Lucius is protective of her, but that is as far as their relationship has gone.
Adrien Brody plays Noah Percy, a mentally challenged young man. He is devoted to Ivy and she in turn is protective of him. This triangle of young characters is the crux of the plot and gives the film its most dramatic moments.
Bryce Dallas Howard is the daughter of filmmaker Ron Howard and is a real find in this film. The scenes between her and Phoenix are amazing and they thrill the hearts of viewers with their looks and touches. They only share a kiss but the passion between the two characters is never doubted.
Shyamalan’s direction and the cinematography of Roger Deakins combine to create scenes which stay with the viewer long after the film has ended. There are romantic moments that blend into terrifying ones, but there is always a balance.
The “twist” ending is fairly predictable and it weakens the overall impact of the movie. Still with Shyamalan’s reputation for “gotcha” filmmaking, it had to be done. But the heart and soul of the movie exists before this part of the film occurs, and that is the part that stays with the viewer the longest.
The film is rated PG-13 for mild violence and implied terror.
Just as Hayley Joel Osment and Shyamalan combined their talents to make “The Sixth Sense” an amazing movie, so do Shyamalan and Bryce Dallas Howard make magic here. It isn’t as overall effective as “Sixth Sense” but it does make for good, solid entertainment.
I scored “The Village” a congregated 7 out of 10.
